Seed-potato cutter.



L. I. MILLER. SEED-POTATO CUTTER. APPLIOATIQK FILED mm: 4, 1906.

Patented Dec. 14. 1909.

2. SHEETS-811E111 1.

L. F. MILLER.

SEED POTATO CUTTER. -nrmcn1or, rILnn mun, 1906.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

2 SHEETS-BEBE! 2L fA VENTOR W/YZ/VESSES: My

t ran snares LEWIS r. MILLER, or BATH Towns-HIP, Quent n counzrv; 'orrro.

snE'n-Pornro cucrrnn.

To all whom imam concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS F. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Bath township, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Potato Gutters; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description-of: the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs,

' and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a handy device or tool, to facilitate'in the labor of cutting potatoes for seeding purpose,-or in other words what is ordinarily termed aseed-potato cutter.

Some of the principal objects of said invention consist 1n producing a device as above referred to, for cutting potatoes into small blocks or sections to be used as seed in planting, that will-be composed of few parts; simple in 'construction; can be quickly and easily operated; is inexpensive in-cost of manufacture; is more effective in its results than those in present use; and one that combines therewith the cutter. J

This invention consists essentially, referring briefly and in general terms to the construction of my improved seed-potato cutter; of an upper-section, provided with a handle, and a blossom-end cutter or knife; and a lower section provided with cutters or knives, supporting bars or rods, and a receptacle adapted'to receive the blossom-ends as cut; and other minor details of construction; and the very peculiar and novel construction, arrangement and combination of these various mechanical. parts, as'will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, and set forth in thesubjoined claims, in accordance with the statutes'in such cases made and provided therefor.

used to indicate or point'out the same parts wherever occurring throughout the several views :F igure 1 is a plan view of my improved seed potato cutter, opened and in an operative position ready to receive the poblossom-end.

speeifiation of lletterslatent. 1 e mi p, c 14, 19 -9 Application meanin 4, 190a. seria n 'aaonaa I tato. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the .device as closed, and the parts in the position they assume after cuttingapotato. Fig. 3

is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device when closed as shown in Fig. 2- but on a slightly enlarged scale therefrom. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the device. when closed as shown'in' ,Fig.

2,but on a slightly enlarged'scale therefromyand Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the cutters or knives in detail.

'In describing my said invention specifically, and referring in detail to the variousv mechanical parts, features or. elements of construction. of nay-improved seed potato cutter, refers to the uppersection having the side-pieces a, which project or extend sufficiently at the front-where they are connected by a brace-bar b, so as to allow of a pivotal or hinged connection at 0 (of any' preferred style desired)with the end-bar c of lower section C, thus making said upper-section pivotally connected thereon as shown. Said upper-section' being provided with a fiat portion or blade which connects with said sidepieces and extends transversely across the top thereof and is suflicientl'yguide-plate e of'said upper section, and as said section is raised 'by means of its handle F -as shown in Fig. 2, to the position shown in Fig. 1,the cut blossom ends or sprouts, willslide or pass from said guide-plate into the trou h or receptacle f adapted to receive them. he under face or bottom portion of said upper-section being formed with grooves or recesses g and 9 adapted to rest over knives 7L and h, whereby the division of space or portions left by grooves g and g in the bottom of the upper section-rwhen, sec--.

tions A and C are brought together in closing the device (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4)- will act as plungers, and force or push the block or seeds into. which the potato has been cut, down and out through the space left between the knives in said lower section C, which will now drop down into the box or other suitable and convenient receptacle not necessary to be here shown as it is no part of this invention,-adapted to receive them; and upon which said device rests and is supported by means of bars or rods z';-which for (3011"(311181168 in illustrating are here shown as partially broken away ;said bars being detachably connected. to said lowersection by screws or otherwise as at is, which pass through the lips Z projecting from the side portions of the frame of lower-section G.

Receptacle f, is detacha'bly connected to and supported from the frame of lowersection C, bymeans of small hooks Z one of which is located on each side of said recep: tacles. Handle F of said upper-section is provided with small supporting-lugs or steps m. adapted to rest upon the front crosspiecelof the frame of said lower section,

when said sections are closed and the parts are Qin theirv normal position as shown more particularly in-Figs. 2 and 3.

Although he number of knives-or cuttersmay be varied according to the dimensions or sizemf the pieces or blocks constituting the seed into which the potato is to be cut;

I prefer to employ two. cross, or transverse,-

kmves h, and one longitudinal knife it;

said knives being provided as fully and clearly shown in Fig. 5, with supportingends n, which met on the top of said frame, while the ends 0,-see Fig..5,are intended to rest in grooves in the frame adapted to receive them as at pa's can .be readily nnderst'oodfrom Figs. land2, and not necessary to be here shown in detail.

qThe potato tobe cut, after first'having any blossom ends or sprouts there may be on it, rem'oved,'-as heretofore fully and clearly referred,to;-is placed upon the knives or' potatovcutter, taken-as illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, what I claim is I Y: v 1. In a device ofthe character described, a

frame, suitable knives mounted therein, a

swinging plunger adapted to force the article cut through said knives, a knife mounted upon the upper face of said swinging plunger, said swinging plunger adapted to convey the cuttings from said knife to a suitable receptacle provided at one extremity of said frame. I

2. In a seed potato cutter, a suitable support, a frame-work, transverse and longitudinal knives carried thereby, a receptacle mounted at one extremity thereof, a bracket carried by said receptacle, a swinging.

plunger mounted on said bracket, the plunger being formed of sheet metal, and having 1ntegral projections stamped therefrom which pass between the knives, as and for the purpose set forth, i

In testimony whereof, I'aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' TJEWIS F. MILLER.

L fitncsses:

B. A. Rose, VVMIF. HAYigQ 

